On behalf of the Officers, Agents, Staff, and Myself I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Labor Day.

Many before us fought for what we take for granted today; the forty-hour week, health and welfare benefits, holidays, vacations, just to name a few.

Now we must continue the fight for those that come after us, for they are our future. Enjoy your day; enjoy the fruits of your labor and all it provides for you and your family.

Ed Thompson,

President Teamsters Local 776

The decisions from the YRC Freight Multi-Region Network Enhancement Change of Operations and Utility Employee Change of Operations hearings held in Rosemont, IL on August 24, 2017 have been released by the IBT. For full details of the decisions follow the links below:

YRC Change of Operations Decision

YRC Change of Operations-Utility Employee

Brothers and Sisters;

For years Members of Teamsters Local 776, along with other Central Pa. Locals, have expressed an interest in joining The Teamsters Horsemen. Due to the distance to the nearest chapter it would have been nearly impossible to actively participate.

In June, while attending the Right to Work Rally in Harrisburg, we were fortunate to meet  and talk to members of the Horsemen Chapters that attended the rally. This again brought attention to starting a chapter in our area. With guidance from Tony Didonato, International President of the Teamster Horsemen, we were able to set in motion the process to form a Local Chapter.

Upon submitting all the necessary paper work I was notified that as of July 27, 2017 we are officially Teamster Horsemen Chapter 53-W  and are now accepting new members. For a membership application or additional information please contact Rob Smiley at (717)-649-4856.

In Solidarity,

Rob Smiley, President

Teamsters Horsemen Chapter 53-W

As a courtesy and a show of support to the newest chapter of the Horsemen Teamsters Local 776 is donating space on the Local’s website until Chapter 53-W gets up and running.

Local 776 Golf Tournament

Eagles Crossing golf course closed to the public on Sunday August 6^th as the course hosted the Local 776 Golf Tournament. Local 776 members were out to enjoy a day of friendship, food, prizes, and good-natured head to head competition to see who could hit it the farthest, the straightest, and the fewest number of times before getting the ball into the cup.

And when the dust cleared and all of the divots had been replaced the winners were:

Championship Flight:

1st Place

Joe Longo (UPS) Matt Tinkham (UPS) Josh Denhoed (UPS) Bryan Whitmer (UPS)

2nd Place

Chuck Thomas (UPSF) Marty Kocher (UPSF) Ron Hetrick (USPF) Lenny Massari (UPSF)

3rd Place

Vince Warford (ABF) Dan Straub (ABF retired) Rusty Campbell (ABF retired) Joo Ro (ABF)

First Flight:

1st Place 

David Ponds (UPS) Jim Toms  (UPS) Steve Lloyd (UPS) Ron Miller (UPS)

2nd Place

Ron Irvin (UPSF) Bill Rhoads (YRC) Justin Shaffer (UPSF) Jeff Elliot (YRC retired)

3rd Place

Jackie Rice (New Penn) Cody Allen (New Penn) Rex Gensler (New Penn) Justin Hunter (New Penn)

Second Flight:

1st Place

John Beaston (ABF) Doug Goodine (ABF) Terry Robinson (ABF) James Hoover (UPS)

2nd Place

Greg Harris (ABF) Terry Fisher (ABF) Tyler Leber (ABF) Brian Fisher (ABF)

3rd Place

Tim Jumper (ABF) Dan Shughart (ABF) Brandon Cerzullo (ABF) Tim Hoffman (ABF)

Closest to the Pin #3:

Ron Irvin (UPSF)

Closest to the Pin #7:

Jim Mackey (New Penn)

Closest to the Pin #13:

Al Swope (YRC)

Closest to the Pin #16:

Jim Hoover (UPS)

Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks goes over the rules

Food and awards ended the day at Eagles Crossing

 Local 776 has been hard at work fighting subcontracting at UPS Freight. With diligence, hard work and industry, Local 776 Business Agent Spencer Dearth has shepherded four Local 776 subcontracting cases against UPS Freight all the way through the grievance process.

Starting with requests of information, the reports are broken down lane by lane to determine if a violation exists. Two-way freight and a pattern of repeatedly subcontracted loads in a lane is a requirement for the filing of a Grievance Report. The process required eye-blurring checking of freight lanes and load records, filing the original grievances, and eventually, arguing the cases before the Eastern Regional Teamsters/UPS Freight Grievance Panel. That Panel deadlocked sending the cases on to the UPS Freight National Committee for consideration.

In June, Business Agent Spencer Dearth argued these cases before the National Committee. Since the National Committee was unable to make a decision on these cases, Dearth successfully convinced the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to file these cases for Arbitration.

As an example of the difficulty of making the cases, winning the arguments and reaching the Arbitration stage, only one other case in eight contract years reached Arbitration before Local 776 and Dearth won IBT Arbitration approval for four cases. The fight continues.

Local 776 Business Agent Spencer Dearth (L) and Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks (R) pour over records to discover UPS Freight subcontracting violations.

IBT notification that the subcontracting grievances will be heard by an arbitrator.

Penn State football is just around the corner! Tickets are still available for the two Organized Labor Ticket Promotions. All Teamsters, including their families and friends, can purchase discounted tickets to the Big Ten home opener against Indiana on September 30^th, and Senior Day against Nebraska on November 18^th .

To purchase your discounted tickets, click here, or visit www.gopsusports.com/teamster (case sensitive) and use the promo code TEAMSTER. If you are experiencing difficulties with the link, would like to order more than 10 tickets, or to purchase parking, please contact Dave Bittner with Penn State Athletics at 814-863-1109 or at DZB91@PSU.EDU.

Tickets are going quickly, don’t delay and be left watching the game on TV!

Local 776 has been advised that YRC Freight is mailing its proposed multi-region network enhancement change of operations and utility employee change of operations today, July 25th. The Company is requesting a hearing date of August 24, 2017.

Below are links to the documents about both proposed changes in operations.

YRC Freight, Inc. 2017 Utility Employee Change of Operations (Article 3, Section 7)

YRC Freight, Inc. 2017 Network Enhancement Change of Operations (Article 8, Section 6)

Recently local 776 sent the most recent Local 776 Newsletter to members. Did the mailman lose yours? did the dog chew it up? if so it's available on the downloads page under "Member Resources". Navigate to the downloads page and you will be able to download, view, and print the newsletter. The newsletter is a good way to keep up with happenings around Local 776.

When UPS Freight driver Charles Walters filed a grievance alleging an improper bidding practice during annual bids Business Agent Spencer Dearth went to work. Working through the UPSF grievance procedure it was determined that Charles’ contractual rights were violated; the error was corrected, and a settlement agreement with the company was negotiated. In appreciation of the work Spencer performed on his behalf Charles donated $250 of the settlement agreement to the Local 776 scholarship fund.

Local 776 Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks (left) accepts a $250.00 donation to the Local 776 Scholarship Fund from UPS Freight Driver Charles Walters (center).  The $250.00 came from a grievance settlement that Business Agent Spencer Dearth (right) had negotiated with UPS.

FORE!

Attention all you golfers, hackers, and duffers! It’s that time of the year again; the local 776 golf outing is scheduled for Sunday August ^6th 2017. Dust off those clubs, find your golf shoes and come on out for a day of golf with your fellow Teamsters. For full details follow the link below:

Local 776 golf outing

Please note that the deadline for registration is July 31, 2017. Spaces fill up quickly so don’t delay, get your group together and sign up!